Lotus Elan S2 1964/65

PostPost by: gearboxgareth » Mon Jan 17, 2022 12:33 pm

Hello all, newbie here and I am posted this on behalf of my dad. When I saw him at the weekend we were talking about clearing out his garage when he mentioned he still has an original Ford gearbox from the Lotus Elan S2 (64/65). It is a 4 speed close ratio version which was removed from his friend's crashed Elan and dad put it in his Ford Anglia. Unfortunately, the engine on the car blew up so dad removed the gearbox and intended putting it in another car but never did. It has remained in his home garage ever since. Dad mentioned he'd rebuilt the gearbox and only drove it for approximately 2 months before the engine went.

Would any of you know how much the gearbox could be worth, and if so, where would be the best place to advertise it as dad would like to sell it? Apologies I don't know any more than this at this stage but if you have any questions I can always go back and ask him. Thanks in advance.
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PostPost by: billwill » Mon Jan 17, 2022 1:28 pm

Best place to sell it is probably right here on this website, but in the Parts-For-Sale forum.
viewforum.php?f=33

But as to the current value, I don't know, sorry, just try asking on that forum for bids.
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PostPost by: elans3 » Mon Jan 17, 2022 4:33 pm

You need to establish whether it is indeed a close ratio.
That may sound daft, but Lotus used 2 gearboxes, the so-called "Semi Close", and the "close".
Most were the semi-close, which had a first gear ratio of 2.972 : 1
The close ratio box had a first gear ratio of 2.51 : 1

Easy to establish, put the box into first gear, & put a paint mark on the inside rear face of the bellhousing, and one on the input shaft, so you can accurately establish 1 full turn of the input shaft). Line those two marks up.
At the output end, put a paint mark on the tailshaft housing, and on the spline of the output shaft adjacent to the mark you've just made on the housing.
Get someone to turn the input shaft exactly one full turn, whilst you count the turns at the back end of the gearbox.
If your end turns nearly 3 times, it's a semi close, if it turns 21/2 times, its a much more valuable close ratio.
My Elan S3 S/E was specced with a close ratio box from new, and I wouldn't be without it.
In the 70's and 80's, (when crashed Elan's weren't so valuable), these CR boxes were robbed from Elans, for Escort & Cortina rally cars. (Yes I was guilty of that in period too......)
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PostPost by: Billmack » Tue Jan 18, 2022 1:39 am

You are a little off with that. You would be counting how many turns of the input shaft to get one full turn of the output shaft
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PostPost by: gearboxgareth » Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:57 am

Thanks to those who have posted so far. Spoke to dad who said although he hasn't tested it he's pretty sure it's the close ratio not the semi, but will carry out the test in the next few days and I will report back.
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PostPost by: elans3 » Tue Jan 18, 2022 10:31 am

Billmack wrote:You are a little off with that. You would be counting how many turns of the input shaft to get one full turn of the output shaft


You're right Bill, it's a long time since I did it..... got it the wrong way round !
Current :- Elan S3 DHC SE S/S 1968,
1963 Alfa Giulia Ti Super Rep.
Previous :-
Elan S3 DHC SE SS 1968,
Elan S3 DHC S/E 1966
Elan S3 FHC Pre-Airflow 1966
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PostPost by: l10tus » Thu Feb 10, 2022 9:36 pm

To establish if it is indeed a 2.51:1 ratio first gear, how many teeth should first gear have then - anybody know ?

If the exact number of teeth on the input shaft and first gear can be established, the correct ratio could be verified, methinks, maybe?
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PostPost by: Craven » Fri Feb 11, 2022 12:08 pm

Close ratio 1st motion shaft, input gear 21 teeth. 2000E 19 teeth.
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PostPost by: l10tus » Sat Feb 12, 2022 1:01 pm

19 teeth on the first motion shaft, how many on the actual first gear, anybody know?
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PostPost by: Craven » Sun Feb 13, 2022 12:01 pm

l10tus wrote:19 teeth on the first motion shaft, how many on the actual first gear, anybody know?

If you are trying to calculate the 1st gear ratio from tooth counting then you need
# teeth on input gear , corresponding # teeth on layshaft, # teeth on 1st gear layshaft, # of teeth on 1st gear mainshaft.
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PostPost by: gearboxgareth » Sun Feb 13, 2022 12:42 pm

Quick update as I've had a number of PM's in respect of this. Spoke to dad this morning and again asked him to determine whether it is the close or semi close ratio which hopefully he'll do in the next couple of days. I've also asked him to take some photos which I can upload.
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